Doings... An incomplete and informal chronology of the earliest days of Æthelmearc by Andreas Hak, KSCA, MP, CSy, etc.

[Originally published in The Betting Man’s Guide to Coronet Tourney Summer 1992 edition]

5/1/1966 – The Knowne World is created. At first there is only one kingdom. It is called the West. All the Knowne World, including Æthelmearc belongs to it.7/21/68 – In the reign of the eighth King, Richard of Mont Real, a new realm is formed. It is the kingdom of the East, and the lands of Æthelmearc are part of it.

6/71 – The Shire of Cormedon (Albany NY) is recognized in lands later to be known as Concordia. These are lands that will sometimes belong to the Western Region which will someday become Æthelmearc.

4/72 – The Shire of Cormedon is officially dissolved.

9/23-24/1972 – Pennsic I is held in Æthelmearc. The site is just a few miles from the home of eighteen year-old Bear the Wallsbane. Unfortunately, the autocrats don’t have the good sense to invite or even inform him. Bear never forgives them.

8/14/73 – Robert de la Torre and Volf of Novgorod petition the Royalty to recognize the Marche of the Debatable Lands (Pittsburg PA). The petition is put aside until missing paperwork is filed. The paperwork is filed and on this day, Debatable Lands is recognized.

9/15-16/1973 – Pennsic II is held near Debatable Lands. Angus the Black is knighted, and Sean Ruabarua is made the first Eastern Master-at-Arms. These are done in battlefield ceremonies.

9/16/73 – The Twelfth Coronation of the East Kingdom is held at the Pennsic War. Angus and Alyson become King and Queen.

2/24/79 – Leonard the Younger is invested as the second baron of Debatable Lands.

3/17/70 – Ice Dragon III is held.

8/18-19/1979 – Pennsic VIII is held.

10/27/79 – The 24th Eastern Crown Tourney is held in the Barony-Marche of the Debatable Lands. It is won by Sir Gavin Kilkenny. The finals were refought after one of the original finalists was removed. Because of this it is known as the Debatable Crown.

4/19/80 – The 25th Coronation of the East is held in Thescorre. Gavin and Tamera are crowned. The event is seminal in the development of the Western Region and a good point at which to stop. The region is becoming much more unified, partly by Morgan Elandris’ efforts to produce a unified fighting force, and partly by hosting two kingdom events and several other Royal Progresses all in about six months.There is no regnum in the 4/80 Pikestaff, but the March issue shows the East consisting of 64 groups in 5 regions. 20 groups are in the Principality of Atlantia (Southern Region) and 8 are in the Western Region. Nithgaard is listed with the Central Region and Concordia is listed with the Northern Region. The June/92 Pikestaff shows the East consisting of 119 groups in 6 regions. 28 groups are in the Principality of Drachenwald, and 26 groups are in the Principality of Æthelmearc.

All dates for officially recognizing groups are taken from Addendum #2 of the Board of Directors’ Minutes dated 4/26/1992. Some of the other dates came from phone calls to Mistress Tsveea, Earl Laeghaire, Duke Gyrth and Duchess Melisaunde. Many dates were obtained or confirmed by the large number of Pikestaves donated by Mistress Ælflӕd of Duckford. My great thanks for the help.